When the idea of an all-women team was mooted at Kendal rugby club it was greeted with some rather odd comments. One man said women were more than welcome to join the club. "Well only if they clean the toilets and tidy up outside," he added.

Another said: "We all know the only reason women go to watch rugby is to see men in tight shorts."

One of the only two women at the meeting said: "I couldn't believe what I was hearing. OK, so the men could have been making the comments in jest, but it is still not on."

James Alexander, the chairman of the Cumbrian club, was keen to play down the comments after they appeared in local news reports. He said the 98-year-old institution was trying to create more interest for the community. "This is a Kendal rugby club for Kendal people," he said. "We want to encourage the whole community. We are making a huge effort to bring families and women back in.

"There is no demand for a women's team as yet. It will be promoted and we will be pushing it forward to try to create an interest."